While everyone is focusing on the debut of Mats Sundin tonight, Oilers fans will see Gilbert Brule on the first line for the first time. Brule and Reddox took turns on the RW at the morning skate today, but Brule tipped me off that he will be on the wing tonight.

For Brule this is the first opportunity to play in a true offensive role in the NHL and he is excited.

“It’s a great chance to think offence. I know that I just have to play a simple game and focus more on getting into spaces where I can score,” said Brule.

The other aspect about Brule’s game that should come in handy tonight against the pesky Canucks is his willingness to play gritty. With disturbers and pests like Kesler and Burrows, if Brule can bring that element tonight that could go a long way for him staying in the line-up, at least until Hemsky returns.

Jacques skates

JF Jacques skated with his teammates for the first time this season, but he is still a long ways away from playing. Jacques’ back is still sore from the surgery and he is looking at getting in a game sometime in February. But that will be in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons and it is very doubtful that he will play with the Oilers this season.

Steve MacIntyre saw the doctor yesterday and it looks like he will be cleared to play in ten days, but the way the fourth line is playing right now it will be hard for him to get in the line-up. Expect him to get a two-week conditioning stint in Springfield to try and get in game shape.

Dwayne Roloson will start in goal tonight for the Oilers. Shawn Horcoff said his back is feeling much better today, and it shouldn’t give him any trouble tonight.

Mats Sundin will skate with Kyle Wellwood and former Camrose Kodiak Mason Raymond tonight, while Pavol Demitra will skate with the Sedin sisters.

The Canucks long term plan is to use Demitra and Sundin as a pair, with the Sisters on the other line, and the other winger will be on a rotation basis, based on who is playing well and which guy has chemistry with the specific pair.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

Did you guys hear the talk before Mact came out? Stauffer was talking like a dip poop. There was swearing going on and bad tasteless jokes getting tossed around. Pretty lame boys.
http://oilers.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=616&id=30143

Jonathan Willis wrote:
@ jeanshorts:
The net would have come off of it’s moorings before that puck crossed the line, if only MacTavish hadn’t lost the room.
Katz has control of the San Andreas fault line… At will he can shake the plates under Edmonton … think that happens for no reason? He could have prevented that goal but he was asleep at the switch - the emperor fiddles while Rome burns.
*drool*

Katz is moving to Vancouver - earthquake liability is not a major concern - but falling rocks on the Sea to Sky highway is definitely a factor - sorry guys I haven't been around - wnet to the River Cree and turned $1500 in $5600 - knew when to walk away - it will be good for the trip to PHX for the Oil in Feb....

Smokin’ Ray wrote:
Did you guys hear the talk before Mact came out? Stauffer was talking like a dip poop. There was swearing going on and bad tasteless jokes getting tossed around. Pretty lame boys.
http://oilers.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=616&id=30143
It doesn’t do anything when I go there…. what did they say?

Oilers have blocked the .mpg so they will not have more issues - too bad that the tourette people are calling into the post game on the team - lame - poor Corey - not needed - not wanted.

Katz plate shifting machine strikes again - miss the playoffs and resign all players at 55% of market value. The entire banking crisis was engineered by Katz and the Generals at NORAD to ensure they resign Roloson cheaper…

With NHL teams dropping in value to around $120 - $140 excluding NYR and MLSE - TOR, the American dollar increase compensates for the drop in the paper value of the team - Katz is not affected as the mortgage is paud for the fans - full hous with all the advertising sold. Trouble occurs when season ticket base stops renewing and the desire for a new building requires real cash - not a CIT group loan. I am putting my money $200K - into Agrium when it dips below $40 - as an aside - time to get into the market - people have to eat and fertilizer is something that Oiler Nation throws around each night.....

Wanye Gretz wrote:
A talking accountant baby in an ad?
Oh Boston Pizza
*bursts into frustrated tears*
But is it worse than Howie Mandel? Is it really?

Howie has it tough - hanging out with 50 models that would do anything on the casting couch to move up the ladder - I think we all wish we had the ACCESS that Howie has with his gig.... when you see the models on TMZ - they refer to themselves as their NUMBER - how pleasantly shallow..... lucky Canadian.

What is wrong with mediocrity at $180 ticket in the golds - you must of missed the section on your ticket that you are not allowed an opinion - pay and remain silent - this Tambo's team - I mean Bat Man's - I mean CIT Group and McKesson. What can Tambo achieve that LOWE has not done while idling in this no trade cap handcuffed league - being able to sell or trade cap space would get the ball rolling.....

Sorry Eb is destined for the minors for the next two years until he grows into his body - perfomance against other WJ peers is remarkable - but with MACT in charge - he does not like scorers and likes his fourth line to produce..... the amount of people calling for Schremp on DANT show is LOL - finally fans are pissed.... turn up the heat instead of this very slow boil...

Can anyone give me a heads up on the censored comments after the game? Was it just media types dropping F-bombs, or were they actually crapping on the team?
Enquiring minds want to know.

Never happened according to OILERMINDCONTROL - Oiler Video
VP Metz has insured that this embarrassment is over - this must of been an internet IP mixup with another feed not related to Rexall sports (of course), Gregor will have the goods - as his show is archived internally via engineering - he has to guard his credentials and have respect for the other media - so this means that this is an urban myth that never occurred - area 51.